Gaurika, Subham, Tenzing set new national records in swimming

Swimmer Gaurika Singh poses with her gold medal during the Eighth National Games in Nepalgunj on Sunday. (Right) Singh competes in 50 meter backstroke.

NEPALGUNJ, April 22: Gaurika Singh of Tribhuvan Army Club and Armed Police Force (APF) Club duo Subham Shrestha and Tenzing Gurung set new national records in swimming in the ongoing Eighth National Games.

At Signet Hotel in Nepalgunj, the youngest Olympian of 2016 Rio Olympics, Singh broke her own previous national record in 50-meter backstroke to win the gold medal clocking 30.85. Her previous record was 31.31 that she had set in a national tournament in 2018.

Shrestha also improved his previous national record in men’s 100-meter breaststroke clocking 1.8.15. His previous record was 1.11.24 set in 2017. Likewise, Gurung set a new national record in 50-meter backstroke clocking 32.81 breaking the previous record of 32.99 set by Pushpa Raj Shani in 2009.
In men’s 100-meter breaststroke, Police’s Sayed Hamza Shah, timing 1.08.87, and Police’s Dipendra Awale, completing the distance in 1.13.37, won silver and bronze respectively.

In men’s 50-meter backstroke, Province 3’s Jay Prakash Gurung and Police’s Tarun Bhandari completed the distance in 34.13 and 34.59 respectively to finish second and third. In women’s 800-meter freestyle, Singh won the gold covering the distance in 9.39.22, while Army’s Upaasti Maharjan and Police’s Samira Sobha Thapa finished second and third respectively.